Machine for manufacturing expanded metal.



W. M. ADAMS & C. S. OAKES.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANDED METAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2-3. I914. RENEWED SEPT. 14. 1915.

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MACHINE FOR MANUF'ACTURING EXPANDED METAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23. I914. RENEWED SEPT 14. I915 4 SHEETS-SHEET a. 2+

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W. M. ADAMS & C. S. OAKES.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPAN DED METAL. APPLICATION FILED um. 23'. mu. RENEWED SEPT. 14. 1915.

1,179,382. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. ADAMS AND CHARLES S. CAKES, OF JEANNETTE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING EXPANDED METAL.

Application filed March 23, 1914, Serial No. 826,873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VVILLIAM M. ADAMs and CHARLES S. OAKEs, residing at Jeannette, in the county of \Vestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, both citizens of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Expanded Metal, of which improvements the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in machinery for making expanded metal; its objects are economy in manufacture and uniformity and excellence of quality of product.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying our improvements; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine. "iewed from the left (Fig. 1), and Fig. 3 an end elevation of the machine viewed from the right; i is a view in cross section and on larger scale of a portion of the machine, the plane of section. being indicated at IV-IV, Fig. 2;Fig. 5 is a view partly in section of a portion of the machine, the plane of section being indicated at V-'V, Fig. 4; F ig. 6 is a view on still larger scale of a portion of the machine as shown in Fig. 4., and in this figure the ma terial is shown in course of fabrication; Fig. 7 is aplan view of the edge of the material lying across the edge of the stationary knife, while in course of fabrication, as indicated in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view in section, on the line VIII-VIII, Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a machine embodying our improvements differing specifically from the machine of the other figures and illustrating certain modifications which may be made in structure.

The improvrments include a cutting and shaping die, illustrated best in Figs. 6 and 8, consisting of a body 1 from whose face protrudes a plurality of blocks 2. This die body will ordinarily be made of tool steel. The blocks,as will be observed, are isolated individually by intervening re Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patent-ed Apr. 18, 1916.

Renewed September 14, 1915. Serial No. 50,703.

cesses; they are identical in shape and size; and in this respect the edges which as will presently appear are their cutting and shaping edges correspond with meshes of the article which formed in the machine. These blocks are arranged in uniform direction on the body 1, their homologous sides parallel, and in a succession of rows; they are spaced at equal intervals, and the individual blocks of succeeding rows are staggered in their relative positions. it will further be observed, and is best shown in Fig. 6, that slots extend transversely between the rows, am. (see Fig. 8) that"recesses 4 extend between the slots 3 and alternate with the blocks 2 which form the. several rows.

Referring to Fig. 8, and comparing the cut and shaped material shown in the lower part of the figure in position upon the cutting and shaping die with the shape and relative positions of the individual blocks 2 shown free of material in the upper part of the figure, it will be observed that each mesh of the finished material is cut and opened by the cooperation of a group of three blocks. We have indicated in Fig. 8 by the reference letter a the four edges of three blocks which cooperating with one another and with the other parts hereinafter to be described cut and stretch a single mesh. It will be observed therefore that the size, shape, and relative position of these blocks determine the size and shape of the meshes of the product. Referring to Fig. 6, it will be observed that the material m is fed from left to right against he cutting and shaping die and as it is so fed it enters the grooves 3. These grooves therefore are in width as great as (ordinarily they will be substantially wider than, the thickness of the sheet of material to be treated; and it will be observed further that the depthof these grooves (and, accordingly, the height of blocks 2) is at least as great, as the width of the keys which connect the meshes th-at is, substantially twice the width of the strands of the finished product. Ordinarily when the die is new, they will be deeper. to permitof grinding as the edges of the die grow dull. As particularly shown in Fig. 6, these grooves are preferably slightly oblique to the general extent of the face of the die; and as particularly shown in Fig. 8, the apices of blocks 2 are truncated-these features of minute construction-being adopted to relieve excessive localized strains incident to the cutting and shaping of the material and to prevent tearing.

As shown in Fig. 6 (of. Fig. 4), the cutting and shaping die may be cylindrical; as shown in Fig. 9, it may be flat.

Cooperating with the cutting and shaping die described is the knife member 5. It extends across the face of the cutting and,

shaping die and in the operation of the machine cohperates with the cutting edges a of the blocks 2 (Fig. 8) to' cut the metal and shape the meshes. The cutting and shaping die on the one hand and the knife on the other are relatively movable. It matters not which member is the movable and which the stationary one; we show our preferred arrangement in which the knife member is stationary and the cutting and shaping die movable. If the shape of the face of the cutting and shaping die is cylindrical (Fig. 6) the path of advance of the cutting edge will be cylindrical; if it be plane. the path too will be plane;-and it will be observed that whatever the variation of shape of the cooperating parts, the path of advance will correspond, and that the cutting edges on coincide with that path of advance. When therefore in the ensuing claims we define the cutting edges of blocks Q-as arranged in a common surface, it will be understood that we intend to define their coincidence with the path of their relative travel with respect to the cutting-edge of the knife 5. Wh her that surface be a plane, a cylinder, or of other form, will depend on the preference of the designer. The essential characteristic of construction is we believe sufficiently pointed out.

It will be understood that the knifemember will, ordinarily, be adjustably mounted, in order to compensate in its position for such variation in the precise location of the face of the die as is incident to the grinding already alluded to.

As shown in Fig. 6 the cutting and shaping die 1 is of cylindrical contour and is mounted to turn on its cylindrical axis and in such turning to be carried across the cutting-edge of the stationary cooperating knife-block 5. Fig. 6 shows a sheet of metal at in position. It has been advanced from left to right in the direction indicated by arrow 3 and its edge extends into a slot 3 in the face of the die. Rotation of the die in the direction indicated by arrow 00 will cause the succession of blocks 2 innne diately above the projecting edge of sheet m to descend, and cotiperating with the cutblock 5 into the next succeeding groove 3,

whereupon the further movement of die 1 will bring the next row of blocks 2 into coiiperation with block 5 cutting and opening a new line of strands of metal, staggered in their position relative to the preceding 1 line, completing the row of half meshes formed by the preceding row of blocks 2 and at the same time opening a new row of half meshes to be completed by the nextensuing row of blocks. From this description the desirability will be apparent of having the slots 8 wider than the thickness of the sheet-thus affording play as the sheet is fed forward. The angling of the keys within the slots and of the strands within recesses 4 is shown in Fig. 6. It will be understood that the feed of the material and the movement of the die will be correlated. As shown, the die 1 is mounted to revolve continuously and slowly-the width of the slots 3 being sufficient to allow the sheet m to be fed forward intermittently in the'intervals while the die is turning an amount represented by the width of each slot 3 less the thickness of the material.

A consideration of Fig. 6 and of the position of the finished portion of the expanded sheet in the face of the die will indicate the advantage of the oblique arrangement of the slots. It relieves strain.

We have shown the blocks 2 to be in respect to their cutting edges a, semi-rhombic, with fiat apices; such is the shape to produce expanded metal of the usual form. It

will be understood that the particular shape i in this regard is not of the essence of the invention.

It will be observed that the cutting edges 11 of the blocks 2 extend in a lattice-like pattern on the face of the die; and that a the operation of the machine so far as described is to cut and spread a sheet of meta to lattice form upon that die-face.

Referring now to Fig. 1, G is the drum which bears the dies of Fig. (3; these dies will ordinarily be made up of segments each extending part way around the cylinder. As shown in Fig. 4, there are five such segments,.and each is intended to cut and expand a single sheet of metal. Still referring to Fig. 1, 7 is the table over which the sheets of material are fed to the drum, as already explained. Fig. 1 shows alsothe gearing for driving the drum in continuous rotation, from a power-shaft S. The feed mechanism When one i understood by referring to is indicated at 9 and is more fully shown in Figs. 2 and 4. It consists of a series of spring-backed pressure blocks 10, the; spring-tension of which may be regulated by the hand-screws 11, and a reciprocatory chuck 12 driven in one direction by springs, 13 and in the other by a paWl-and-ratchet connection 14 with drum 6, indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be understood that the number of ratchet teeth will determine the number of reciprocations of the chuck to each revolution of the drum and that these being made to correspond in number and interval with slots 3, a reciprocation may be had every time a slot 3 comes into alinement with the feed table; and it will be understood that with each reciprocation of the chuck the material is carried forward the desired distance.

Fig. 9 shows a feed-device consisting of a pair of cotiperating rolls 10", 12, and this showing serves to indicate that the specific form 0 feed-mechanism may be varied.

It has been explained in connection with Fig. 8 that the operation of the machine is to spread a metal lattice on the face of the die. 'My invention includes also a stripper for removing the lattice so formed and carried. This stripper is shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. It consists of a series of fingers like plow-shares 15 mounted on a table on the opposite side of the drum from the feedtable, extending close to the face of the drum and adapted to engage the expanded sheet at one edge when lifted from the face of the drum by the instrumentalities to be described, and on the continued turning of the drum to strip the sheet from the drum and deliver it to the surface of the table. Adjacent the advance edge of each die-sec.- tion of the cylinder face and extending across the face of the drum are a pair of blocks 16 and 17 connected by the inclined dove-tail engagement shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The outer block 16 is secure against longitudinal movement, but the under block 17 is movable longitudinally. When it is thrust in one direction (to the left. Fig. 5) it causes block 16 to rise radially from the face of the drum; when thrust in the opposite direction it draws block 16 back again. Cams 18 and 19 properly positioned with relation to the fingers 15 cause the block 16 to rise and fall at desired intervals. Recesses in the outer face of block 16 are spaced to register with fingers 15 as the drum turns. The fingers 15 may be carried onaa shaft 20 and their position minutely adjusted by set-screws in the anchored bar 2.

The operation of the stripper will be best ig. 4. As the drum turns and a sheet of unformed metal is fed in, a sheet of expanded-metal will be formed and spread on the lower left-hand portion of the face of the drum. As the drum continues to turn this sheet will be brought toward the point of delivery on the right. When that point is approached the block 17 will engage cam 19, and driven longitudinally will drive block 16 outward and lift the forward edge of the sheet of expanded metal; the fingers 15 entering the recesses in the face of block 16 will engage and raise the sheet progressively from end to end and deposit it on the delivery table. As the drum turns, the block 17 will engage cam 18 and the block 16 will be retracted again.

It remains to. be said of the die-plates 1 of the drum 6 that each may conveniently be built in sections, each section forming a single line of blocks 2 with intervening recesses lying in circumferential line around the drum (or if preferred in longitudinal line). The edges of these sections will be serrated and mesh each with its next longitudinal neighbor.

Fig. 9 shows a planiform die-plate 1" movable in a right-line path driven from a power-shaft 8 through proper gearing and crank-and-pitman connection. The construction is otherwise obvious.

We claim as our invention:

1. A cutting and shaping die for use in an expanded-metal machine from whose face protrudes a plurality of individually isolated blocks with intervening continuous recesses, said blocks cooperating in groups of three to form single meshes in the finished article; each group of three being arranged with one block in advance and two blocks sideby side in the rear.

2. A cutting and shaping die for use in an expanded-metal machine from whose face protrudes a plurality of individually isolated blocks with slots between, such blocks arranged in cooperating groups of three to form single meshes in the finished article; each group of three arranged with one block in advance and two blocks side by side in the rear; the shape and size of the anterior edge of each block being of the shape and size of the forward part of each mesh in the finished article; the interval of succession from block to block being the interval of succession of meshes in the finished article; the slots between the blocks being in width as great as the thickness of the material to be operated on and in depth at least twice as great as the Width of the strands of the finished article.

3. A cutting and shaping die for use in an expanded-metal machine equipped on its face with a succession of cutting edges the interval of succession corresponding to the Width of the meshes of the finished article and with a succession of slots extending the full width of the die.

4. Acutting and shaping die for use in wanmmwhumnhs V tween and opening into the slots.

6. A cutting and shaping die for use in an expanded-metal machine consisting of an integral rigid block whose otherwise continuous surface is interrupted by a succession of slots, extending the full width of the die and by rows of recesses extending between the slots, the recesses of succeeding rows being arranged in staggered relative positions.

7. A cutting and shaping die for use in an expanded-metal machine provided on its face with a plurality of outstanding rigid blocks of triangular outline and substantial height, arranged in a succession of rows, the bases of the blocks.of each row being alined and the apices of all'of the blocks pointing in the same direction.

8. A die for use in an expanded-metal machine whose-face is configured into alter-- nately arranged substantially triangular blocks and intervening substantially triangular recesses; theblocks being isolated and the recesses, continuous, the triangles of the recesses and the triangles of the blocks being arranged base to base.

9. A die for use in an expanded-metal machineconsisting of a body whose otherwise continuous face is recessed and by such recesses shaped and provided'with a plurality of isolated blocks, the walls of such recesses being oblique to the face of the block.

10. A cutting and shaping die for an expanded-metal machine consisting of a cylindrical body whose face is configured with a succession of rows of cutting and shaping edges, each of such edges extending longitudinally of the cylinder, all of said edges coincident with a single cylindrical surface, and the shape and sizeof the individual cutting edges and their spacing correspond ing to the shape size and spacing of the meshes of the article to be produced.

11. The combination of a (lie-block provided with a succession of recesses each extending the full width thereof and by such recesses shaped to a plurality of rows of relatively rigid cutting and shaping edges' extending in a common sl'lrface, and cutting und spreadmg means cooperating with the said die-blocks in a direction parallel from said block.

13. In an expanded-metal machine a pair of knife-members one stationary and the other movable and cooperating in a single continuous path of relative movement, one of said knife-members being equippedwith a plurality of rigidily borne cutting edges arranged in a succession of rows and all coincident with such path of movement.

14. In an expanded-metal machine the combination ofa knife-member having an extended face, a secondknife-member having an extended edge and when the parts are assembledextending across the face of the knife-member first named, one of said members being stationary and the other movable, means for imparting relative movement to the two knife-members, the face of the first member being equipped with a succession of rigidly borne cutting-edges coincident with the path of such relative movement and arranged in succession in the direction of such relative movement.

15. In an expanded-metal machine the ;-combination of. apair of knife-members arranged in operative relative posltions, one

of said knife-members provided with a sin gle cutting-edge and the other knife-member provided with a plurality of cutting-edges of shape size and relative positions corre sponding to the meshes of the finished arti cle, and means for imparting relative movethe other; the face of said die-block pro-' vided with a succession of slots which in the aforementioned relative movement of the parts aline in succession with the feed table, one edge of each of said slots cooperatiug with the edge of the said table to slit a sheet of metal fed across it and into the slot.

18. In an expanded-metal machine .the combination of a feed-table and a die-block, relatively movable the one with respect to the other; the face of the said die-block provided with a succession of slots which in the aforementioned movement of the parts aline in succession with the feed-table;

means for imparting such relative move- In testimony whereof we have hereunto ment to the said parts; and means 1%)1 im set our hands.

parting intermittent moveinentto a s eet 0 metal extending upon said feed-table, such means for feeding the material being correlated to the means for imparting to die- Witnesses:

block and table the relative movement first PAUL N. CRITCHLOW,

mentioned. FRANCIS J. TOMASSON. 

